We put five free online storage services, which let you upload your files to a 'virtual hard drive' and access them from your other devices, to the test to find out just which is the best one for you.
DriveHQ FileManager
Drive Headquarters, the company behind DriveHQ, sells online storage, backup and other online services that appear to be designed mainly for business users. Its cloud-syncing desktop software, DriveHQ FileManager, was released in early 2007.
How it works
DriveHQ FileManager works very similarly to an FTP file transfer application. It has two panes in its user interface: The right side displays the contents of your local computer's hard drive, while the left pane shows the folders and files on your DriveHQ online storage space.
Transferring files or folders between these two directories is done by clicking on the item in question and dragging and dropping it into the other pane.
You can also click to select the file or folder you want to upload from your local hard drive and click the 'Upload' button to transfer it to your online storage space. It also works the other way around: You can copy a file to your local drive by selecting something on your storage space on the DriveHQ server and clicking the "Download" button.
Synchronising a folder between your local and online directories is done by right-clicking on the folder stored on your DriveHQ online drive and choosing the 'Synchronise with local' option. DriveHQ File Manager will automatically upload and download files between your online and local folders so that the contents of each match one another.
To share a folder on your DriveHQ online drive, you right-click on it, select 'Share' and enter the email address or DriveHQ username of the person you want to receive it. Your friend or colleague will then be e-mailed a link with which he can access the folder.
What's good
Uploading files to, and downloading them from, your online storage space is as speedy as you'd expect from an FTP setup.
What needs to be fixed
This service feels like it's just a basic online storage service - there's nothing really unique or 'cloud-like' about how it works. The DriveHQ FileManager application might as well be a typical FTP front-end application.
Bottom line
DriveHQ FileManager will feel familiar to anyone accustomed to using an FTP file transfer program. But that means it isn't as simple as an automatic-syncing cloud file storage system.
Product Specs
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7
Mobile apps: None
Storage size: 1GB
Maximum file size: Unlimited
Daily data-transfer limit: 1GB
Paid plans: 7 plans ranging from $2.99 (£1.91) to $69.99 (£44.75) per month or $29.99 (£19.10) to $699.99 (£447.50) per year), with maximum data transfer caps ranging from 4GB to 400GB per month
NEXT PAGE: Dropbox
- Store, sync and share your files for no charge
- DriveHQ FileManager
- Dropbox
- OpenDrive
- SpideOak
- ZumoDrive
- Conclusions
Comments
Remitor said: As for me i agre with Pete Vincenti and i do think that free services are not as free as they claim If you dont pay for what you get it is only because YOU are the product for these firms I back up my photos on wwwjoomeocom because its unlimited private and secured For 30year im sure nobody will share my photos without any permission
Pete Vicentini Jr. said: This is my top ten http1sttechguidesblogspotHowever all of them have free basic service but the magic is in the paid service
James said: Please re-read or read for the first time the article Each service reviewed offers free basic storage in addition to paid greater capacity services No scam here
Loadof said: The very first line of this article The 5 best free online storage servicesYet these are not free The writer of this is clearly an incompetent idiot or is a scammer simply schilling product
Scottgauld73 said: Drop box is horrible I loaded up videos to share with my photos and they sit there and buffer constantly when trying to watch from a mobile device I dont mind paying for but want a service that doesnt slow down the speed or transfer rate for video making it unwatchable
Monica said: Then theres CloudMe 3GB free and up to 19GB with referralsGreat Swedish based European storage alternative
Jon Snow said: Online data storage are much more reliable and long lasting when compared to local solutions provided you find a good host heres a list of some of the better ones Some of them were mentioned in this article toohttpwwwetechmagcom20121
Matt Egan said: Me neither An odd one To be investigated
Simon said: Not sure how this ended up in my inbox as one of todays top stories However it does highlight just how much has changed over the last two years and a revised review might be warrantedFor my own purposes I am usingSkydrive which floats my boat at least
adrive said: Been using Adrive 50Gb free storage for over 5 years to back up my other backups of photos And never lost any files with them Other services dont offer enough free storage Interface may be antiquated but works and is free Company also been around a long time and seem to be going strong 5 stars from me coz its a true free service
Bullitbiter said: Ive been told there is a possible new player coming onto the market that gives you the option to pay for what you use between 1GB to 1TBIm not 100 sure but i think its due to launch this year 2012 and i think the domain name is wwwEpicCloudingcomAnyone else heard of them or have any more info on themPS by the looks of it there facebook shows they have just set up a new accounthttpswwwfacebookcompagesCraig
Fooman said: hold on a minute maybe Im missing something Isnt this supposed to be a list of the best 5 FREE storage services Whats all this subscription stuff then Bit misleading or maybe we get paid
Jay Olson said: DropBox
ochionnaith said: Lost all my dataI signed up last year very happy with the marketing pricing and the way the service operated However in December all my data was lost and opendrive have been unable to restore provide access to a backup etc I was devastated as a lot of the items I had stored were single copy and are now apparently lost forever If a provider fails in the single most important and basic premise of its service in not being able to guarantee the safe storage and easy return of data how can they be trusted I am surprised that I have not read more about this on the web as a co-worker has had the same experience The response from their customer service team has been very poor I received a response to my query as to where my files were blandly informing me that the files were lost and no further efforts would be made to restore them there was no follow up offer of refund or it appears any determination on behalf of opendrive to find a successful solution Trust Not so sure
Vaultscape said: Thanks for the detailed research and testing Howard In my opinion Dropbox is the best free online storage service Its user interface is extremely easy to understand and its uploading speed is fast too
free online storage said: A file transfer service providesa number of packages to opt as per ones requirementTo know perfectly howto send a file you should go through the plans and packages carefully asdescribed on the service providers website free online storage
angelo dane said: I think he means that you need a review update
Social Media Marketing Blog said: All Cloud services are great in services these services are veryhelpfulforweb mastersand business organizations tostore data on internet
Starscream said: I use Iozetacom and Ive never had any problems with my backed up files
JoeGP said: Your various links on the bottom to Dropbox opendrive dont work at least not anymore they just send you back to the first pageOh and 1GB thats not storage thats pocket change i know its free but so is a rusty bicycle with flat tires